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AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, telecommunications briefs

Feb 26, 2013 (AME Info - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
ETISALAT NAMES LENDERS FOR $6BN MAROC STAKE: UAE's Etisalat has selected advisers for its bid for Vivendi's 53 percent stake in Maroc Telecom, Reuters has reported. Abu Dhabi-listed Etisalat picked BNP Paribas and Morocco's Attijariwafa Bank to advise on the deal, according to three banking sources. Vivendi's majority stake in Maroc Telecom is worth about $6bn on current market value, and a potential buyer for the stake would also be expected to make a mandatory offer to minority shareholders, further boosting the takeover price.

BAHRAIN APPROVES 4G AUCTION, RULES OUT NEW OPERATORS: Bahrain's telecoms ministry has said it is set to launch an auction for fourth generation mobile telephone frequencies, Gulf News Daily has reported. Mobile phone operators in the kingdom will be invited to vie for the 4G mobile contract, and no new mobile telephone operator will be allowed to enter the market, the ministry said.

LG RULES OUT PLANS FOR WINDOWS PHONE 8 HANDSETS: LG has said it has said it remains open to using Microsoft's mobile operating system, but doesn't see a huge demand for the product, CNET has reported. "We want to give customers what they ask for," an LG representative said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "When there's a significant market for it, we will be on board," the representative said.

UMNIAH CALLS FOR PARTNERING WITH APP PROVIDERS: Jordanian telecoms operator Umniah has said that mobile service providers need to realise that traditional sources of revenues are witnessing challenges, with the popularity of smartphones on the rise, Jordan Times has reported. "The increase in number of smartphones holders in Jordan will increase challenges these operators face as holders of such devices can download VoIP apps," said Umniah CEO Ihab Hinnawi. He called for more alliances between telecoms operators and app providers to reduce the negative impact on operators. "Prices of smartphones are decreasing and so are internet prices, which encourages people to buy such devices and use VoIP," Hinnawi added.

MOBILY AWARDS JASPER WIRELESS M2M PROJECT DEAL : Saudi telecoms operator, Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) has signed an agreement with US-based Jasper Wireless to wirelessly connect machine-to-machine (M2M) and consumer electronics devices in the kingdom. The cloud-based solution will allow Mobily to connect devices across its network. Under the deal, Jasper Wireless is to provide Mobily with the necessary applications and services to profitably connect and manage a range of embedded wireless devices across myriad verticals including automotive telematics and infotainment, consumer electronics, smart metering and building automation.

NOKIA TO UNVEIL CHEAPER MODELS ON MONDAY: Nokia has decided to shifting the focus of its turnaround strategy to regaining domination of cheaper handsets after a stuttering campaign to catch up with Apple and Samsung in high-end smartphones, Reuters has reported, citing company sources. The Finnish handset maker plans to introduce cut-price basic phones to compete with the likes of Huawei and ZTE and a new, lower-price model of its Lumia smartphone on Monday at the Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona. Nokia's market share in the smartphone business is still only around 5 percent.